What is Car Power Windows?

2016-12-30 by Todd Franklin

Car power windows are the windows of vehicles that can be controlled through the flick or press of a switch. It replaced the manual ways of having to wind up car windows as hand cranking proved to be strenuous. The very first car power windows which were fitted on automobiles in 1940 were hydro-electric followed by the vacuum-powered variation which came into use a few years down the line. While hand-cranked door handles were more common in the later part of the twentieth century, power windows became more in use from the 1980s till present day. In 2008, some automakers even went as far as eliminating hand-cranked handles from all their models.

Using the car power window is pretty straightforward as all the controller/driver needs to do is depress a switch to roll down the window or lift up to wind back up. Most automobiles come with a central control system which control every window, with specific controls also mounted on each door in case the passenger wants to have the freedom to control the window(s) in question. The central control system is almost always located at the driver’s side of the car. However, some vehicle models like the Volvo, Saab, and Holden use switches located in a central area most times around the space between the driver and the front passenger. This is to encourage all occupants of the vehicle to control the system as they desire.

It is also worthy to note that car power windows do not function when the car is not running. This is part of the design plan so as to limit the incidence of theft. An independent car power window can easily be controlled from the outside of the car and that will give the intruder easy access to said vehicle. While car power windows add some dimension of security and aesthetics to the overall driving experience, it isn’t without some criticism. They have been the object of much maligning as they have led to fatal accidents where kids necks were trapped, leading to suffocation. As a countermeasure, driver-controlled lockout switches are being installed to prevent rear-seat passengers – mostly children and pets from accidentally triggering the power window switches.

As it’s most natural for kids and pets to put their heads out the windows, this precaution will keep them from accidentally activating the switch.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance and/or situation; power windows have come to stay.